Liver disease a leading cause of death among HIV-Hepatitis C co-infected patients and increasing among HIV-Hepatits B co-infections, with the highest risk in infections with both Hepatitis C and Hepatitis B, finds the most recent issue of the Journal of Hepatology.

May's issue of Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics estimates the incidence of clinical nephrotoxicity in patients taking 5-aminosalicylate therapy to be 1 in 4000 patients per year and advises regular renal function monitoring for early detection.

Research in the most recent Journal of Hepatology issue clearly indicates that interferon-alpha induced depression in psychiatric risk patients can be ameliorated by both the use of antidepressants as well as by intensive psychiatric care.

Surgical treatment is effective initial therapy but disease may recur in a minority of patients whilst medical treatment is less effective initial therapy, with recurrence in half of the patients, finds May's issue of Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics.

A study in the latest issue of Gut reports risk factors for dysplasia similar to those previously identified in a high risk population and states that methods are needed to triage these individuals to endoscopy.

Diclofenac and rofecoxib have higher rates of aminotransferase elevations than other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs but none have increased rates of liver-related serious adverse events or deaths, finds May's issue of Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.

The use of non-cardiac QTc-prolonging drugs, such as cisapride and domperidone used to treat gastro-intestinal conditions, is associated with an increased risk of sudden cardiac death, finds the latest publication in European Heart Journal.

The most recent issue of Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics reports that practitioners routinely start general medical in-patients on acid suppression without an appropriate indication, leading to long-term misuse after discharge.

Research reported in this month's Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews recommends the use of methotrexate 25 mg intramuscularly weekly for induction of remission and complete withdrawal from steroids in patients with refractory Crohn's.

Antibiotic use within 60 days is associated with a lower risk of flare of Crohn's disease, although the effect wanes over time and is not associated with ulcerative colitis, finds this month's Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.

In a large nationwide study spanning a 26-year period, reported in the latest Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics finds there is an increasing incidence rate and a decreasing mortality rate of pyogenic liver abscess.

The lower fasting and postmeal plasma ghrelin levels in binge-eating disorder are consistent with lower ghrelin levels in obese compared to lean individuals, finds a study in May's Journal of Nutrition.

Light-induced fluorescence endoscopy does not improve the detection of high-grade dysplasia or early stage cancer in Barrett's esophagus compared with standard endoscopy, reports May's issue of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy.

This month's Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition reports that children with fulminant hepatic failure with severe coagulopathy and lower alanine aminotransferase on admission are more likely to require liver transplantation.

This month's issue of Inflammatory Bowel Disease reports that a small number of infusion reactions occur among pediatric patients receiving infliximab for IBD, and they may be prevented by premedication in many of those who have reacted to earlier infusions.